Wire stretcher and reel.



A. L. ST RAWN.

WIRE STRETCHER AND REEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 2| I QU- Pate med Dec. 4,1917.

'INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY AIBNER L. STRAWN, 0F HUTCHINSON, KANSAS.

WIRE STRETOHER AND REEL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER L. STRAWN, a farmer and a citizen of the United States, residing at Hutchinson, in the county of Reno and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire Stretchers and Reels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wire stretchers and reels and the object is to provide a device of the character indicated which may be readily attached to one of the wheels of a vehicle and to be operated for reeling barbed wire and other forms of fencing wire by the manual operation of the wheel after thelatter has been elevated from the ground. The device is also employed for stretching the wire.

Another object is to provide improved means for locking the members of the reel in position for use.

In the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification: 0

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the device in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section showing the structure of the inner locking members.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the structure at the left of Fig. 3.

In the construction of the device I employ a cylindrical member designed to inclose the outer portion of the hub of the Wheel of a vehicle, this member being pro-- vided on one end with a flanged ring and with securing devices for connecting the ring and the cylindricalmember with the spokes of a wheel or with blocks mounted between the spokes of the wheel. The cylindrical member is surrounded with the structure forming the reel proper, the latter rotating with reference to the cylinder at given times and being locked thereto when desired by means of arms extending radially through the cylinder and engaging certain portions of the reel. The radially extending members are operated by means of a lever pivoted within the cylinder, and another set of radial arms is mounted at the outer end of the cylinder and is adapted to engage the outer side portion of the reel for retaining the latter against longitudinal movement or dislacement from the cylinder.

The cylindrical member surroundin the outer portion of the hub is designated 10,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed March 2, 1917. Serial No. 152,060.

and secured to the end of the cylinder which Wlll be adjacent to the spokes of the wheel is a flanged ring 12 provided with apertures through which project bolts 14L designed to pass between the spokes 15 and to be secured by nuts 16 which bear against washers or plate-like members 17 on the inner side of the spokes. Bolts 14 pass through blocks 19 mounted between the spokes, and the washers or plates may engage both spokes and blocks.

The reel may comprise a plurality of annular members 24 and 25 connected by means of bars 26 extending longitudinally of the cylinder and spaced at any desired distance. The reel is allowed to rotate with reference to the cylinder when the wire already wound upon the reel is being given out prior to connecting the wire to the fence posts. In winding the wire on the reel the latter is connected rigidly with the cylinder 10 and therefore with the wheel proper, and the reel is turned by operating the wheel of the vehicle manually by grasping the rim or the spokes, the axle having first been elevated from the ground.

The means for effecting rigid connection between the reel proper and the cylinder includes a plurality of radially extending arms connected to a lever on opposite sides of its pivotal point, the lever being in turn pivoted to a stationary bar 28 mounted diametrically of the cylinder. This lever is designated 29 and the radial arms 30 and 81, one end of the lever projecting from the outer end of the cylinder to permit of operation by hand.

A similar construction is employed near the outer end of the cylinder and comprises a rigidly mounted bar extending diametrically ofthe cylinder and designated 35, and having pivotally connected at its central portion a lever 36 which in turn is pivotally connected on opposite sides of the'first pivot with radial arms 38 and 39. These arms project through apertures formed in cars i0 and 41 extending laterally from the diametrica-l bar last mentioned. Notches 12 may be provided in the end of the cylinder and the projecting ends of bars may pass through the notches and serve to engage the annular member 24 of the reel, thereby preventing the displacement of the reel longitudinally of the cylinder.

The operations of erecting and removing wire fencing have a very important bearing upon agricultural operations on large ranches, and this device is especially designed to facilitate the rapid construction of fencing or the removal thereof.

The cylindrical member having been attached to the wheel in the manner spec1fied,

' the reel is locked thereto and this particular wheel of the vehicle is jacked up from the ground, permitting operation by hand as stated. The barbed wire or other form of fencing wire is thereby quickly handled without coming into contact with the hands directly. In paying out the wire for the purter to a wheel structure, a reel, rotatably mounted on the tubular member, means for preventing longitudinal movement of the reel with reference to the tubular member, and independent means for preventing at times the rotatable movement of the reel on said member, said means for preventing longitudinal and rotatable movement comprising a plurality of series of radially extending arms.

2. In a device of the class described, a tubular member, means for securing the latter to a wheel structure and inclosing the outer end of the hub, a supporting member extending transversely of the tubular member, an operating arm pivoted to the supporting member, and devices connected with the arm and adapted to project radially over the end of the tubular member, a reel car ried by the member last mentioned and retained against longitudinal movement by said devices.

3. In a device of the class described, a tubular member, means for securing the latter to a wheel structure and inclosing the outer end of the hub, a supporting member extending transversely of the tubular member, an operating arm pivoted to the sup porting member, and devices connected with the arm and adapted to project radially over the end of the tubular member, a reel carried by the member last mentioned and retained against longitudinal movement by said devices, and means for preventing Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the rotary movement between the reel and tubular member.

4-. In a device of-the class described, a tubular member, means for securing the latter to a wheel structure and inclosing the outer end of the hub, a supporting member extending transversely of thetubular member, an operating arm pivoted to the supporting member, and devices connected with the arm and adapted to project radially over the end of the tubular member, a reel carried by the member last mentioned and retained against longitudinal movement by said devices, and means for preventing rotary movement between the reel and tubular member comprising a pivoted lever, and a bar extending laterally through the tubular member and pivoted to the lever.

5. In a device of the class described, a tubular member, means for connecting one end thereof with the spokes of a Wheel, said tubular member inclosing the outer portion of the hub of the wheel, a reel rotatably mounted on the tubular 'member, a bar mounted diametrically within the tubular member, a lever pivoted to said bar, radial arms connected respectively to the lever on the opposite side of the pivotal point, ears projecting from one end of the cylinder, said arms passing through the ears and adapted to engage the outer portion of the reel for retaining the latter against longitudinal movement on the tubular member.

6. In a device of the class described, a tubular member, means for securing one end of the latter to the spokes of the Wheel, a. tubular member inclosingthe outer end of the hub, a reel'mounted rotatably on the tubular member, devices mounted Within the tubular member and near its central portion and adapted to move radially through the walls of the tubular member and engage portions of the reel for preventing rotation between the latter and the tubular member, means projecting beyond the end of the tubular member for operating the radial members, and means mounted at the outer end of the cylinder and adapted to be shifted radially with reference to said eylinder for engaging the outer portion of the reel, said means last named including a lever the fulcrum of which is substantially coincident with the axis of the tubular member, and arms pivotally connected with the lever on'opposite sides of its fulcrum, said arms engaging the outer portion of the reel for retaining it against longitudinal movement.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ABNER L. s'rnawu.

Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

